News
Opera Enables Emoji-Only Web Addresses Provided By Yat
While longer addresses consisting of four or five emojis sell for as little as $4, it can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to secure a memorable single-emoji URL.
If you have the latest version of the Opera web browser installed on your computer, go ahead and launch it.
Now, copy & paste 🌈🚀👽 into the address bar and press Enter. You should see a landing page belonging to Kesha, the American singer-songwriter.
You can also enter 👽🎵 to be redirected to the official website of Young Money Entertainment, the American record label founded by rapper Lil Wayne.
These emoji-only web addresses are the result of Opera’s partnership with Yat, a startup that sells URLs with emojis using its Y.at domain. Thanks to the partnership, Opera users now don’t have to enter “y.at” when visiting Yat’s emoji-only web addresses.
“The partnership marks a major paradigm shift in the way the internet works” said Jorgen Arnesen, the executive vice president of mobile at Opera. “It’s new, it’s easier, and more fun”.
It can also be pretty damn expensive. While longer addresses consisting of four or five emojis sell for as little as $4, it can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to secure a memorable single-emoji URL.
Why would anyone do that when it’s fairly easy to purchase a custom domain name that supports emojis and use it instead of the “y.at” domain? Because Yat’s CEO Naveen Jain has big plans for the startup.
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In the future, Jain would like Yat to become a self-sovereign company using blockchain technology to provide a decentralized alternative to the current domain name system (DNS).
“This is laying the foundation. There are certain elements of the vision that are certainly more of a social contract than actual implementation at this point in time” says Jain. “But this is the vision that we’ve set forth, and we’re working continuously towards that goal”.
In 2021, Yat sold almost $20 million worth of emoji identities, and the partnership with Opera could make 2022 sales figures even more impressive.
News
Ericsson And e& Join Forces To Bring Superfast 5G To Egypt
The partnership aims to deliver fast, reliable connectivity to private users and enterprises while supporting cross-sector digital innovation.
At GITEX GLOBAL 2024, Ericsson and e& Egypt announced a groundbreaking partnership to roll out 5G technology across Egypt, promising users enhanced connectivity with faster speeds, reduced latency, and expanded bandwidth. The collaboration will cater to the growing demand for advanced mobile services for both consumers and enterprises alike.
Under the agreement, Ericsson will deliver its energy-efficient 5G product suite to establish the new network. This comprehensive 5G Radio Access Network (5G RAN) portfolio, implemented through the Ericsson Radio System, is designed to support diverse traffic conditions and site types. It aims to provide reliable performance as networks grow across mobile generations, equipping Egypt with a stable, high-capacity infrastructure to foster digital innovation.
The adoption of 5G is expected to provide Egyptians with seamless connectivity and increased network resilience. The expanded bandwidth and lower latency brought by this new infrastructure will support not only faster internet for users but also enhance industry operations and contribute to society as a whole.
“We are thrilled to bring 5G to Egypt with our technology partner, Ericsson. Through this partnership, e& Egypt will be able to provide faster connectivity speeds, larger bandwidth, and lag-free user experience to our customers, unlocking many opportunities for consumers and enterprises,” said Amr Fathy, Chief Technology and Information Officer of e& Egypt. “With Ericsson’s cutting-edge 5G solutions, we are paving the way for a more connected and innovative future for Egypt”.
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Ekow Nelson, Vice President and Head of Global Customer Unit for e& at Ericsson Middle East and Africa, also reflected on the longstanding collaboration: “Our storied partnership with e& Egypt dates back nearly two decades, with two generational shifts in mobile technology. Like previous generational shifts, our ambition with 5G is to extend e& Egypt’s technology position”.
Ericsson and e& Egypt have collaborated successfully for years, achieving notable milestones in network innovation, customer experience, and sustainable development.